Manchester City’s Premier League title defense was dealt another blow on Saturday after Crystal Palace rallied from two goals behind to salvage a 2-2 draw thanks to Michael Olise’s last-gasp penalty.
Pep Guardiola’s team took grip when Jack Grealish scored in the first half and Rico Lewis extended the lead after the break.
The champions, however, crumbled in the second half at the Etihad Stadium, as Jean-Philippe Mateta narrowed the lead in the latter stages before Olise converted his penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Pep Guardiola’s men have dropped points for the sixth time in six league games, having drawn with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham and lost to Aston Villa before last Sunday’s 2-1 win at Luton.
The result left them fourth in the rankings, three points behind leaders Liverpool, who visit Manchester United on Sunday in their final encounter before going to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup.
City’s goal for an unprecedented fourth consecutive title is jeopardized, but Guardiola will remind his players that they recovered from eight points behind Arsenal to win the league late last season.
City dominated the first half despite the absence of Erling Haaland, and Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson saved a fifth-minute Julian Alvarez header.
City broke through in the 24th minute when Phil Foden fed Grealish, who tapped past Henderson for his third goal in as many league games despite a protracted VAR check for offside.
Following a touch from Henderson, Josko Gvardiol drilled into the side-netting, then Foden lashed a shot wide.
Seven minutes into the second half, Alvarez’s free-kick on the left found the far post, but the flag was raised for offside against Rodri, and the goal was disallowed.
In the 54th minute, Grealish’s pass ricocheted off Rodri and fell to Lewis for a close-range finish, with the 19-year-old’s first Premier League goal confirmed after a VAR review.
City appeared to be cruising, but Palace equalized in the 76th minute when a long ball found Jeffrey Schlupp, who found Mateta, who slid home to set Guardiola’s squad on edge.
Deep into stoppage time, Foden brought down Mateta in the box, referee Paul Tierney signaled to the spot, and Olise easily converted the ball past Ederson.